Ashley Greene is still working hard

Fresh off the underwhelming performance of her movie Apparition - the reviews for it are now at 2% on Rotten Tomatoes - a curious new item about Ashley Greene has appeared on today’s Page Six. If you recall, Page Six last choked itself on Greene pimping about a month ago - click here for a refresher - suggesting that Greene would soon eclipse Kristen Stewart as Twilight’s most sought-after star.

And the As IF-ing continues:

Execs at Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the behemoth “Twilight Saga” franchise, are patiently hoping Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart get back together after Stewart was caught cheating with director Rupert Sanders. As a result, sources say, Summit hasn’t fully organized press plans for the fourth “Twilight” movie, “Breaking Dawn — Part 2,” out in November. “The studio’s holding out to see if they get back together. But I don’t think anyone is banking on that happening,” said an insider. “At this point, the press strategy would have been mapped out. It’s usually very organized, but at this time it’s undecided.” Sources said Stewart and Pattinson could attend premieres separately if they don’t reunite. And that Ashley Greene could step into a more prominent role at promo appearances should fans’ dislike toward Stewart continue. Greene’s new movie “The Apparition” grossed just $3 million in 800 theaters last weekend, but its big per-screen average beat “The Bourne Legacy” and “The Campaign.”

As Sarah from Cinesnark said when I sent this to her, “Per screen average has become the last refuge of idiots explaining why a bomb isn't really a bomb.” But also... The Bourne Legacy and The Campaign have been out for weeks. Is this supposed to be an argument in favour of Apparition’s performance?

You have been skipping gossip class too often if you don’t think there’s any calculation behind these pathetic moves. On Greene’s part, needless to say, she’s trying to save face. But it may also be a similar tactic to one we’ve been seeing more and more of lately from the cast of The Hunger Games. Jena Malone and Sam Claflin both supposedly leaked word that they’d confirmed their roles - Johanna and Finnick - before they were actually confirmed so as to build public support and sway the studio. This then could be Greene’s way of telling Summit that she’s ready for the responsibility, that she wants to carry more of the promotional duties for the final Twilight. It’s like going to your boss and pro-actively asking to expand your job description. So her motivation is obvious...but what’s in it for Page Six? Why do they keep indulging her?

Greene’s publicist does not represent anyone with a higher profile so an exchange for favours for someone else on her client list isn’t likely. What she can offer however for a positive placement in the column is a future tip. Greene may be a third tier Twilight player but she still has some involvement in the process and may be in a good position to pick up some insider information on the status of Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Now THAT, for Page Six, would be worth negotiating for, wouldn’t it?